In 66 A.D., while Nero was Emperor of Rome, the
last Roman Procurator Florian was accused of
stealing from the Temple. To mock him,
protestors took up a collection of coins for the
relief of the "poverty-stricken" Procurator.
Showing a rather poor sense of humor, Florian
sent troops to put down the disorder. This led to
a full-scale rebellion. The Roman troops
eventually surrendered, but were killed anyway.
By now, the rebellion had grown to a full-scale
war. The Jews in Jerusalem started minting their
own coins, with victory slogans, such as the
Perutah. But there was also fighting among the
Jews, as the more extreme elements took control
from (and eliminated) the moderate leaders,
under whom the rebellion had started. Nero
sent his distinguished general, Vespasian, to
stamp out the Jewish rebellion. But political
troubles at home led Nero to commit suicide,
and Vespasian headed back to Rome to claim the
Emperorship for himself, leaving his son Titus in
charge of the Judean campaign. Vespasian was
ultimately successful in his quest for the throne,
and as Titus was also ultimately successful in
crushing the Judean rebellion. As a finishing
touch, the Temple where the last of the Jewish
rebels in Jerusalem had holed up was burned to
the ground in 70 B.C.
These ancient coins were minted in Jerusalem
during the second year of the war against Rome.
Mounted on the reverse, these coins feature a
vine leaf and the Hebrew legend "The Freedom of
Zion.” The obverse is adorned with a two-
handled broad rimmed amphora and bears the
inscription: "Year Two.” Set in a stunning pair of
modern 18 Karat gold earrings, these coins are a
gorgeous memorial to the enduring struggle of
the Jewish people.
- (FJ.6958)
|
